Weston County school board approves pay increases, budget adjustments and program funding

The Weston County School Board on a series of largely unanimous voice votes approved multiple personnel pay adjustments, budget increases, and program funding moves affecting the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Board members voted to cover a 9% increase in district medical insurance costs (estimated at about $170,000), authorize one-step certified and classified staff raises and lane changes, increase the certified base by $750, raise directors' and administrators' bases by $1,000, and make multiple other targeted budget changes. The board approved an increase of roughly $100,000 to general‑fund major maintenance, a $75,000 allocation to the transportation budget for vehicle/bus upgrades, a roughly $3,000 addition to the high‑school athletic budget to accommodate future shot‑clock officials, and other targeted reallocations. The board also approved moving $14,000 in existing funds to middle‑ and high‑school coaching extra‑duty contracts and adding $250 per contract.

The board approved a proposal to stop participating in the federal lunch program for grades 6–12 beginning in the 2025–26 school year and to fund the service locally; administrators said the transition would require approximately $100,000 from the general fund. Trustees also approved allocating $10,000 from the general fund to continue Special Olympics participation after state funding ended, and approved a $3 hourly base increase for three building secretaries (estimated $20,000 total).

Board members approved a recommendation to open employee key‑card access to the weight room as part of a staff wellness plan, and approved reallocations to cover pool and rec fund items and to keep current extra‑duty amounts unchanged for some recreation positions.

The board received and approved the third quarter financial report (Jan. 1–March 31), which showed state foundation payments for the quarter of $1,929,089.71 and county tax payments to the general fund of $1,274,859.59. The report noted food service had been supplemented from the general fund by $105,950 to cover wages so far this fiscal year; administrators said food service has required supplemental general‑fund support in prior years as well.

All motions described above were moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote; meeting audio records show the routine “All those in favor… Aye. Opposed, nay. Motion carried.” phrasing for each.

Ending: The package of votes represents the board’s current budget and personnel priorities heading into 2025–26; several items (notably the food‑service transition and vehicle/major‑maintenance increases) will affect upcoming planning and staffing. No roll‑call tallies were given in the transcript for these motions; outcomes were recorded in the meeting as approved.